HP police finally gets its own vehicle-mounted jammer
The state had been depending on the neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab for jammer-fitted vehicles during VVIPs visits so far
Almost a decade after it began modernising its ill-equipped police force, Himachal Pradesh got first vehicle-mounted jammer, at a cost of ₹1.88 crore. The police have also purchased two potable jammers, costing ₹50 lakh each.
Deputy inspector general (DIG, CID Intelligence) Diljit Singh Thakur said, “All these years we had to depend on the neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab for jammer-fitted vehicles during VVIPs visits. Now, we have our own vehicle.”
The jammers are based on advanced digital signal processing technology with frequency jamming of global system for mobile, code division multiple axis and 4G band of cellular phones, an intelligence official said.
TO PURCHASE DRONES
Besides this, the police has also drawn a proposal to purchase two drones to carry out air surveillance and track illegal cannabis and poppy cultivation. The home department has given its nod to the crime investigation department (CID)’s proposal.
Three years ago, the department had prepared a similar proposal but due to financial constraints, it could buy only one drone at the time.
With more than 400 marijuana and poppy-growing villages across the state, the department plans to use these drones to keep tabs on the drug mafia. Himachal has the notorious distinction of being the highest producer of poppy in the country. Around 64% of poppy and 55% of cannabis cultivated in the state are in the remote villages of Kullu, Manali, Chamba, Shimla and Sirmaur.
The poppy grown here is used to extract opium, which finds its way into Haryana, Punjab and some areas of Rajasthan as well.
FOR AIR SURVEILLANCE OF FOREST AREAS
Besides this, the CID also plans to use the drones for air surveillance on the forest areas in Chamba district bordering with Jammu and Kashmir. The border is manned by a battalion of the Himachal Police. The Chamba border with Jammu and Kashmir became sensitive after Pakistan-trained terrorists gunned down 36 labourers in Kalaban and Satrundi villages in 1998.
